More cuts or are they done?

The Lightning put forwards Mathieu Darche and Kyle Wanvig and defenseman Bryce Lampman on waivers for the purpose of re-assigning them to AHL Norfolk. We will know if they clear at noon Monday. That leaves 23 in camp, 21 active players and injured Dan Boyle and Ryan Craig. So is the Lightning done cutting or do they go with 21?

Coach John Tortorella would rather keep 20, but GM Jay Feaster indicated today the final count may be 21. That is partly because of the injury to Chris Gratton's right eye that still has left him with blurry vision.

It is an interesting question. If Tampa Bay goes with 21, that means TWO rookie defensemen will make the team: Mike Lundin and Matt Smaby. If they decide to go with 20, it is likely Lundin will be the survivor, though Tortorella said Saturday, even Doug Janik's status is not yet entirely secure. That, frankly, is a bit surprising to me since I didn't think Janik was playing that badly, and even Tortorella has said Smaby is still struggling with the speed of the NHL game. So it would be quite surprising if Janik, with a year's experience, did not make the opening-day roster in favor of two rookies, one who is struggling with game speed.

Tortorella said the final team would not be announced until Sunday, but, of course, that could change.

   

Comments

[agatha]

I like this team but the first few weeks will be rough with Boyle. Gratton was playing superbly until the eye injury. I hope he's ready soon. And, frankly, I thought Craig would have a breakout season. I have confidence Ouellet will contribute and make Richie reach his known potential. This season is on the shoulders of the goalies and the D.

I am praying for all these guys.

[Eric]

Argh, I don't even know where to go with this, so I apologize that this article is not the right place, but it is the most recent Lightning article.

I'm frustrated because I woke up early on Sunday morning here in Japan to listen to the first game, only to find that there is no options to listen to games on the new Tampa Bay Lightning web site. (Not an improvement to the old one in any way that I can see.)

I am a huge hockey fan, and regularly attend games when I lived in Tampa Bay and every time I visit my parents during hockey season if a home game is on. I moved to Japan in 2003 and listened to games through wdae620.com for a few years. Last year I got the message:

"Unfortunately, due to licensing restrictions we can not comply with your request at this time."

It nearly turned me off of last season, but I found that I was able to use the "Listen Live" link that would appear on tampabaylightning.com during a game.

However, that link is no longer there. When I visit the new tampabaylightning.com page, I see:
Score Sheet | Super Stats |
Radio (620 WDAE)

But for me, only "Score Sheet" and "Super Stats" are links while "Radio (620 WDAE)" is not selectable.

Going to "http://www.nhl.com/scores/index.html" shows me all the "listen" options for all the ongoing games, but doesn't give me the option of clicking on any of them.

For a league that is choosing to open it's season overseas, why would they not allow people overseas to develop or maintain an interest in this sport by be able to listen to game broadcasts? There is no way there the NHL has enough interest in Japan for me to have an option to listen/watch games live.

I don't understand why the NHL has chosen to replace the Tampa Bay Lightning website with a less personal, less interesting, less friendly cookie cutter version of other NHL sites, but the result is feeling disenfranchised as a fan, and not being able to watch or listen to NHL games even if I wanted to.

If anyone has any help or information for me about this, please do let me know.

[goldenbolt]

www.620wdae.com carries the games. Click on the radio tower. That is how I listen to all the road games when not on the tube.

[Lightning rod]

MSG who owns the Rangers is suing the NHL over the standardizing of all team web sites. I am not surprised. However, the ability to listen to games may not start until the regular season. That is unless the guys that run the NHL have completely lost their minds. Though that could be. Verus is a good example.

[Eric]

@goldenbolt:
When I go to 620wdae.com and click the "Listen Live", it says it knows I'm outside of America, and their licensing doesn't allow me to listen. It didn't allow me to listen last year either, but I could listen through tampabaylightning.com's link.

[Phantom]

A lot of the data is funky and incomplete during exhibition season.
I think the above http://www.nhl.com/scores/index.html link will be plugged in once the games count.

I hope the SPT re-activates the e-mail address link to the authors of posts as well. Might not need an 'instigator rule' on the blog if certain vitriolic nonsense and rebuttals can be taken to the e-mail.
Anonymous posters should be blocked.

Back on task, I hope Janik makes it along with the two young defenders. Then if Torts gets torqued with somebody, the slacker can catch a bus.

Go Bolts!

[Another joe]

Last night Holmer won the job coming in and stopping 17 of 18 shots. I care about the results of preseason as much as i care about football preseason. It just doesnt matter. Its just about getting in shape for the season and gettng some practice in.

I am worried about Boyle being gone first few weeks tho. My optimistic side hopes it gives some other guys experience and will keep Boyle from having to log 30 minutes of ice time the 2nd half of the year!

Anyway its time for the real games to begin! Go Bolts!

[Mike P]

Eric, take a look at NHL CenterIce Online. It's a streaming version of the CenterIce package. It'll cost you a few bucks but you might be able to watch instead of just listening to Bolts games. http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/centerice_online.html

[Mike13]

Eric,

If you had a server based in the US that your could dial into and then launch the 620 Listen Live, that might work. If you don't mind seeing game highlights, you can try the NHL channel on YouTube and/or TSN.ca. Both have really good video-highlight coverage of the games.

As for DC's topic here....
Given all the injuries and such, I think the Bolts should keep both Smaby and Janik, at least until Boyler is back in full force. Then, assuming we're back to full force, send 2 of the young defensemen up to Norfolk. IMHO, Janik is the only real option for the last slot. Lundin and Smaby will soon be on their way to the AHL.

[mbab]

Damian and all fellow bloggers....we all need to put our predictions in writing...should be fun and very interesting...and everyone be nice no matter what you read...go bolts...Damian lead the way